Ava Reid was born in Manhattan and raised right across the Hudson River in Hoboken, but currently lives in Palo Alto, where the weather is too sunny and the people are too friendly. She has a degree in political science from Barnard College, focusing on religion and ethnonationalism. She has worked for a refugee resettlement organization, for a U.S. senator, and, most recently, for an AI robotics startup. The Wolf and the Woodsman is her first novel.
The Knight and the Moth (2025) (Stonewater Kingdom, book 1) Rachel Gillig "With the headiness of dreams and the darkness of haunted abbeys, The Knight and the Moth is a dazzlingly transportive tale of love, salvation, and freedom that cements Gillig as one of the finest fantasy writers of our age. You will never want to surface from these enchanting, depthless waters."
Hungerstone (2025) Kat Dunn "A rich and daring reimagining that brings the beating heart of Carmilla to life again. Hungerstone is a delicious tribute to the inherent horrors of womanhood and the desperate and exquisite vulgarity of desire. This is everything I dream of in a novel."
A Curse for the Homesick (2025) Laura Brooke Robson "A lyrical, melancholy, and deeply moving story about the people we love and the places we long for, even when we know we shouldn't. Aching and poignant."
What the Woods Took (2024) Courtney Gould "A visceral, unflinching, and emotionally powerful horror novel...this is Gould at her most poignant and most electric."
Divine Mortals (2024) (Divine Mortals, book 1) Amanda M Helander "With whimsical charm, sweeping romance, and a pantheon of snarky and fickle gods, Divine Mortals has all the magic of a fantasy classic-in-the-making. Mona is one of the most lovable, messily human protagonists I've ever read - you will fall madly in love with her and with this book."
The Thirteenth Child (2024) Erin A Craig "A haunting, deeply romantic tale of life and death, and one girl who walks the fragile cord between them. Steeped in folklore and rich in atmosphere, I was enchanted from the very first page."
Nightstrider (2024) (Nightstrider, book 1) Sophia Slade "An immersive, richly imagined world that is as detailed as it is sweeping, with a complex and compelling ensemble cast ... Nightstrider is a dynamic and addictive dark fantasy thrill ride."
The Monstrous Kind (2024) Lydia Gregovic "A gorgeously evocative gothic fantasy, conjuring mist-cloaked manors, unearthly monsters, disturbing family secrets, and a dark thread of forbidden romance. This is everything I look for in a book."
Lucy Undying (2024) (Dracula , book 1) Kiersten White "White has crafted a gothic-tinged tale as deep and dark as grave dirt and as lush as spilled blood."
A Dark and Drowning Tide (2024) Allison Saft "Richly imagined and as bewitching as a naiad's song, A Dark and Drowning Tide deftly weaves romance with powerful indictments of the fetid, nationalistic roots of our favorite fairy tales. But for each prick of a prejudicial thorn, Saft offers her readers a balm - at its core, this is a story about the healing capacity of love. Clever, emotional, and gorgeous."
The Bright Sword (2024) Lev Grossman "A novel that is as much about the Matter of Britain as it is our own florid and layered imaginings of it. Breathlessly weaves themes of faith, duty, and selfhood with a classic sword-and-sorcery adventure - this is why we read fantasy."
The Warm Hands of Ghosts (2024) Katherine Arden "Darkly beautiful and deeply humane, this is a story of love that reaches across borders and across oceans, and even penetrates the veil of death. It will stir your heart and settle into your bones."
The Bad Ones (2024) Melissa Albert "Melissa Albert writes the kind of horror that doesn't just make you check under your bed-it makes you check your own reflection in the mirror. A black-veined, spectral howl of a novel, The Bad Ones cements Albert as the contemporary queen of suburban fantasy."
So Let Them Burn (2024) (Divine Traitors, book 1) Kamilah Cole "A riveting adventure, a deft exploration of colonialism, and a deeply moving tale of a fierce and complex sisterly bond. So Let Them Burn will keep you up all night reading, and then linger with you for long after the final page."
What the River Knows (2023) (Secrets of the Nile, book 1) Isabel Ibañez "Intricately threaded with real history, What the River Knows is romantic, adrenaline-soaked, and gleaming with clandestine magic. Opening like a dusty puzzle box, it reveals a spirited heroine, her prickly love interest, and an adventure that will spirit you away to the serpentine waters of the Nile. A masterpiece."
This Dark Descent (2023) (This Dark Descent, book 1) Kalyn Josephson "Brimming with action, political intrigue, and a touch of romance, This Dark Descent is a fierce and darkly magical thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat."
The Foxglove King (2023) (Nightshade Crown, book 1) Hannah Whitten "Darkly sumptuous and beautifully dangerous, The Foxglove King wraps you up in a velvet gown and then holds a knife to your throat."
Nocturne (2023) Alyssa Wees "In Nocturne, Wees robes the classic story of Beauty and the Beast in lush prose and infinite splendor. It's a fever dream of a novel, surreal and intricate, and enchanting in every way."
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi (2023) (Amina Al-Sirafi, book 1) Shannon Chakraborty "Chakraborty's latest unfurls like a scroll of ancient parchment, conjuring realer-than-life monsters, menacing magic, and a heroine with a gnarled, beating heart. An exhilarating, propulsive adventure, stitched from the threads of real history, Amina's adventures are the reason to read fantasy. I'll follow this captain and her crew anywhere."
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love (2023) Lex Croucher "This is the queer YA take on A Knight's Tale I've always dreamed of! A charming, witty, and completely unputdownable adventure."
The Daughters of Izdihar (2023) (Alamaxa Duology, book 1) Hadeer Elsbai "Action-packed, magic-filled, and led by two fierce, vividly-rendered women, The Daughters of Izdihar is a compelling and empowering debut."
Kalyna the Soothsayer (2022) (Failures of Four Kingdoms, book 1) Elijah Kinch Spector "A gorgeous, layered debut, both intricate and propulsive, with a singularly brilliant heroine at its center. Kalyna is a twisty, entrancing, and totally unique entry into epic fantasy."
Wrath Goddess Sing (2022) Maya Deane "A bold, shining tapestry, weaving a bloody tale of war, birthright, and divinity with a tender story of longing, identity, and love. Epic and triumphant."
Kaikeyi (2022) Vaishnavi Patel "A lyrical and evocative retelling, full of power and grace, which brings forward a traditionally maligned woman of myth. A spellbinding debut."
Daughter of the Moon Goddess (2022) (Celestial Kingdom, book 1) Sue Lynn Tan "A sparkling debut, epic but intimate, about love and sacrifice and hope in the face of despair. At its center is a protagonist who is flawed but full of heart--I dare you not to be entranced by this magical book."
A Lesson in Vengeance (2021) Victoria Lee "A smart, layered, thought-provoking thriller about female desire and the intimacy of violence."
The Frozen Crown (2021) (Warrior Witch Duology, book 1) Greta Kelly "A gripping, intricate tale of court intrigue with no shortage of thought-provoking questions about power, morality, and identity. Askia is a strong-willed yet vulnerable and utterly human character that will linger in readers’ hearts and minds long after they turn the final page."
